RADIO
Scott Engel provides the keys to cashing in when playing DFS NASCAR on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Many fantasy players who usually do not play DFS NASCAR gravitate to the Daytona 500 and sprinkle in some lineups for some fun every year. Others expand their DFS endeavors by adding the sport to their portfolio of games played. Then there are those who return every week to build bankrolls or hit on a bigger win.
For all levels of participation and experience, we have the ultimate guide to DFS NASCAR success. Some fantasy sports work optimally in a DFS format, and NASCAR is clearly one of them. Every race is unique because of the tracks, so it’s natural that you should get a chance to rebuild and reload for each event.
Succeeding in DFS NASCAR on DraftKings and FanDuel requires being flexible and nimble while also sticking to some core approaches.
Tips For DFS NASCAR Success in 2022
Always employ multiple lineups: I can always tell who is a newer player when they ask me to review their “lineup” for a race. Diversification is essential in DFS NASCAR. Any driver can wreck at any time, totally ruining any singular lineup for the day. At superspeedways such as Daytona and Talladega, there can be multiple wrecks, so you may not want to invest as heavily in these events.
Use the Optimizer comfortably: Depending on your level of experience, you can find different ways to utilize the RotoBaller DFS NASCAR Optimizer to best suit your own personal needs. You can let the optimizer do a lot of the heavier lifting in lineup creation, or if you are a savvier player, use its projections as guideposts to create your own lineups.
Adjusting to the Next Gen car: This is the factor that could cause much more unpredictability. NASCAR describes the Next Gen car as an “entirely new race car” that takes a “massive leap forward”. The cars you will see this season have been “overhauled”. Brandon Thomas, NASCAR’s managing director for vehicle systems, told USA Today that the sees the Next Gen car as a return to the roots of stock car racing.
Drivers may take time getting used to the car earlier in the season, and race results could become more unpredictable, which naturally will affect DFS outcomes and make the game even more challenging. A primary aim of the Next Gen car is to even the overall playing field more between drivers and create more parity, which could mean more potential lead changes and surprise winners. Cup series racing could be more exciting this season, yet it could also become more difficult to forecast. So keep rolling out those multiple lineups as we get more comfortable with the Next Gen car.
Lean on past and recent results: Even though the Next Gen car will shake things up somewhat, we can still review recent and overall results at a track to determine who the better picks are. Every week, we will deliver analysis containing overall results and Loop Data at every track that can spotlight certain drivers as better choices than others. Looking at results from the last few years at a site can help us identify some ideal picks. In-season momentum is also very important and combining recent results from the current year with past history is often a recommended approach.
Don’t fade the chalk: As a general rule, many DFS players will fade the most widely rostered drivers, especially in larger tournaments. But in DFS NASCAR, the clearly dominant drivers give you better chances of finishing near the top of the field. Being unique in how you build around them is how you can get a distinctive edge. You can take a similar stance on some of the more popular value drivers in any race.
Don’t go to the bottom of the pricing ladder: In many DFS sports, a “punt play” can often be a difference-maker. That is often not the case in most DFS NASCAR events. You want to avoid the drivers at the back of the field, because many of those who start there consistently don’t advance highly in the field. As a guideline, I usually avoid drivers below $6000 on DraftKings in many cases, although there are exceptions. The only times I dip neat the bottom of the pricing ladders is in superspeedway and road course races.
Varying the lineup building: When constructing multiple lineups, I take different approaches to building them. Some of my lineups will be more front-loaded with top drivers. Others will be more balanced. At a superspeedway, I may feature more value selections. Some of my “ideal” lineups will simply feature the best available drivers in every tier that can fit into the salary structure without being concerned about “leaving money on the table.”
Dominators and Place Differential: While the Next Gen car could create more competition this season, there should still be “dominators” in many events who will lead many laps and anchor your best lineups. A top driver who starts near the front of the pack and has a strong history at the site should often be a top lineup target for that event. Of course, as soon as the starting lineup is set for a race, you should identify the better drivers overall for that track that can gain the most Place Differential points. Combining possible dominators and Place Differential targets are two central tenets of lineup construction.
Practices can be important: Keep your eyes trained on pre-race events and watch them if you have the time. How drivers run in final practice sessions can give you a window to how they may perform in the actual race. Just don’t review the practice results, also consult the 10 Consecutive Lap Averages.
